The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-07-20
DISTINGUISHED HONOR FOR GREENWOOD
She Built The First Railroad I'm the
County, and Has Been an ImpOr.
tant Factor in The Building OF EY-
cry Other Railroad -. Prophetic
IL ON af VIer CifiZpna

Greenwood is entitled to the credit of how
ing brought within the bounds OF Abbeville
county the first railroad constructed upon hel
soil This is an eXtravagant claim, but LEI
history speak for her. When the GreenvillC
and Columbia railroad was about to be loca.
ted in 1850, the most natural ana direct route
from Newberry to Grccnrilie was through
I.aurens county. SO apparent was this fact
that the people OF LaurenS did not believe
that it was practicable to divert it from them
that every business principle would require
It's construction through their county, wheth;
hills on either side, and the turbld waters Oh
Saluda river would at least bar its entrance
into Abbcville county. Greenwood Thought
otherwise and scizng the opportunity, held
public meeting to which she Invited the cit.
iZcns of the county for the purpose OF raising
such an amount MS would secure inc location
of the road through her territory. IT is to be
remembered that this was ut time when
there were no railroads In this part OF the
State, and the people were in blissinl igmo-
rance Of their energlSinS influence. The
scheme was regarded by some OF the most In
as entirely visionary; that the ROAD would
not dcfray its own expenses. if built. That
freight that could he collected along the line
within that time. Such was the counsel offer.
cd her, but she refused to heed II, anu went
forward with determination TO triumph
gave to AbbcvilC county the Grcenville and
Columbia railroad. The proposition orgi:
mated with her; her tact and money secured
its adoption, and LaurenS was glad to get a
branch road. But this was small matter
compared with her subsequent achievements.
In those days her people were wealthy, and
had at their command almost unlimited
means for the accomplishment OF any object
they might desire. In 1872 she emf cred upon
one Of the most remarkable undertakings ev-
or accomplished in the history of railroads.
The confusion of civil war had not yet ended,
and the remnants of her scattered fortune
were still unculectcd. She was poor indeed
in this worlds goods. The enormous tariff en-
acted by the Grcenvillc and Columbia rail-
ing in the extreme and aroused her to effect
her dcl!vcrance from II burden she would not
endure. To this end she began the study of
the railroad problem. She saw that all the
railroads in the northern section Of the State
inclined eastward, and that there was no road
running from the northern interior across Sa-
vannah river. In view OF this fact she deter
mined upon the construction OF the
GREENWOOD AND AUGUSTA RAILROAD.
\ remarkable feature about this enterprise
was, that, with her, twas not so much ques-
ton of how, as it was Of fact, that 1t should be
DONE She applied for and obtained charter
the immediate townships through which the
road was located in this and Edgeflcld coun-
tics, thus limiting the range OF support TO the
nrishborhoods through which ii ran. There
was no provision for Il county tax none was
thought Of because il was known TO be use
less, and no aid was offered. The only other
source Of means was a bona fide subscription
of Sl50 400 upon which the company relied
with confidence and would have been availa-
bic but for the financial crash OF 1878 which
not only wiped out tho subscription, but